TWider Horizons is Lethbridge Polytechnic’s community and alumni magazine, which is dedicated to educating, engaging and delighting our readers through compelling stories and images about our people, places, ideas and experiences.
Each January, May and September, Wider Horizons is mailed to alumni and friends of the institution, distributed in the community and available on campus.
Readers who would like to receive an e-version of the magazine, comment on a story, change their address or remove their name from our mailing list should email the editor at WHMagazine@lethpolytech.ca.
Alumni looking to connect with the polytechnic can email alumni@lethpolytech.ca.
Writers: Stacey Andrews, Melanie Fast, Dawn Sugimoto
Proofreader: Jennifer Yanish
Distribution: Amy Taylor
Polytechnic staff contributors: Taylor Bourret, Kristy Clark, Leeanne Conrad, Ryan Hammell, James Harrison, Greg Kruyssen, Lawrence Krysak, Lanae Morris, Ron Ostepchuk, Derek Rischke, Stephanie Savage, Allyssa Tuck, Heather Zimmerman { VOL. 18 | ISSUE 1 | FALL 2024 }
Located on the traditional lands of the Blackfoot Confederacy, Lethbridge Polytechnic is committed to honouring the land from a place of knowing.
We invite you to watch our territorial land acknowledgement online at learn.lc/land-acknowledgement
oday, the word “bittersweet” is on my mind, as I need to start this message by letting you know it will be my last as editor of Wider Horizons left for the only job I could ever imagine loving more than editing this publication, which is editing Arches, the alumni magazine of my alma mater, the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash. It’s a part-time, remote contract position, which means I’ll still be based in Lethbridge, and now will get to head back to the Pacific Northwest a bit more often to share in celebrations and get a sense of the campus and its people today. I can’t wait to tell the stories of the alumni who learned and grew in the place that shaped me so much.
As excited as I am, it was a really difficult decision, as I have loved being a part of the Kodiaks community for nearly 13 years. It has been a complete privilege to share the stories of the people, places and ideas that make this place so special. And I’ll confess that it has been hard saying goodbye to so many good people – including you, our readers. You have been patient and supportive as I learned something new with each issue, and I became a better editor because of your generosity of ideas, feedback and encouragement.
Thank you. Thank you for helping make this magazine a reflection of the dedicated, vibrant, interesting and fun community of grads, employees, partners and friends. Thanks for being people I feel so very connected to and part of a community I am honoured to have a place in. Thank you for helping make Lethbridge feel like home.
The sweet part of bittersweet is that my talented colleague Tina Karst (Communication Arts – Broadcast Journalism 2005) has been promoted to the institution’s senior writer and will be the new editor of Wider Horizons. Our team has been deliberate in succession planning, and Tina and I collaborated on a number of projects these last two years including the memorable “The New Buffalo” issue of Wider Horizons last fall.
While the succession came a little sooner than anyone had planned, our whole team is confident that Tina has the great storytelling skills, the deep knowledge and experience, and the incredible connections within the institution and in our alumni and southern Alberta communities to thrive in her new role. And it’s pretty cool knowing both of us will be editing the alumni magazines of our alma maters (which you can read more about on p. 2). I hope you welcome her as warmly as you’ve welcomed me.
The other reason we are confident you will be in good hands is because art director Dana Woodward, the creative rockstar of a designer who has made these pages look so beautiful the past 13 years, will continue to bring you a publication that has an incredible look, feel and focus. Dana is one of the best in the design business, and working on these last 36 issues with him has been both a privilege and a pleasure. Thank you, Dana.
And now, it looks like I am running out of space, and so for our last time I’ll say it (this time with tears in my eyes): Thank you for reading. We hope you enjoy this issue.
Lisa Kozleski Editor
SEEN ON CAMPUS
Project Management students hosted a multicultural fashion show April 5 in The Cave. The event was a “runway” success filled with live music and delicious Asian cuisine.
Chef Megan Laqua (Baking Apprentice 2023)
Families in focus
The Ervin family says the lessons learned at this institution laid the foundation for their success.
by Shawn Salberg
Changing of the guard puts grad at helm of Wider Horizons Homecomings
For the first time since it launched as part of the institution’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2007, Wider Horizons will have a grad as its editor-in-chief.
Tina Karst, who graduated from the Communication Arts – Broadcast Journalism program at Lethbridge Polytechnic in 2005 and joined the Communications team as the media relations specialist in January 2022, took over as the institution’s senior writer and editor of Wider Horizons in late July. She stepped into the role that had been filled by Lisa Kozleski for nearly 13 years, after Kozleski left to lead the alumni magazine of her own alma mater, the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash. (Read more about Kozleski’s new position in her final editor’s message on the inside front cover).
Before returning to Lethbridge Polytechnic as an employee, Karst was part of CJOC News’ award-winning newsroom for nearly 15 years, where she served as associate news director.
“While it was no surprise the seasoned journalist brought a keen sense of storytelling, attention to detail and rock-solid work ethic, Tina unexpectedly discovered a love for longform feature writing early in her time on the team,” says Communications Manager Dawn Sugimoto (Communication Arts – Print Journalism 1988). “With her personal connection to the institution as a grad and her obvious love for the magazine, Wider Horizons is in great hands and readers are in for a treat.”
Karst has taken on every opportunity to write for the magazine that has been available to her, and served as co-editor of the fall 2023 special issue, “The New Buffalo.” Her story on fellow grad Troy Knowlton (Business Administration – Management 2016), Chief of the Piikani First Nation, is a finalist for two awards in the Alberta Magazine Awards competition.
Story by Tina Karst and Lisa Kozleski Illustrations by Gillian Goerz
Karst and Kozleski collaborated on this issue of Wider Horizons, and Karst will fully take over the winter issue. Before Kozleski left, she and Karst sat down to answer some rapid-fire questions about their approach to writing, work and Wider Horizons Here’s what they had to say:
MOST INTERESTING PRESS PASS HANGING ON YOUR BULLETIN BOARD?
TINA: 2012 World Women’s Curling Championship.
LISA: White House Press Pass from Bill Clinton’s visit to Pennsylvania in 1999.
FIRST DAY YOU STEPPED ON LETHBRIDGE POLYTECHNIC’S CAMPUS?
TINA: First week of September 2003 to start my Communication Arts diploma.
FAVOURITE WH MAGAZINE COVER?
TINA: I love Spring 2023 – Feast of Eden.
LISA: The polar bear cover! (Winter 2016)
MOST CHERISHED ITEM ON YOUR DESK?
TINA: A framed photo of my kids.
LISA: First week of September 2011 to interview for this job.
HANDWRITTEN NOTES OR DICTATION?
TINA: I have to audio record interviews –my handwriting is terrible!
LISA: I used to be hardwired for handwritten, but now am a dictation devotee!
FAVOURITE MEMORY OF CAMPUS LIFE?
TINA: Meeting my future husband and making life-long friends. Tequila Tuesdays at The Barn were pretty fun, too!
LISA: There are so many, but I still laugh about how when I scored a hat trick in lunchtime floor hockey and told my dad, he said it was the proudest I had ever made him.
THE STORY YOU REPORTED THAT YOU WON’T EVER FORGET?
TINA: The CF-18 jet crash at the Lethbridge Airport during an airshow practice run in July 2010.
LISA: I’ve got two: the crash of Flight 93 in Shanksville on Sept. 11, 2001, and the canonization of American saint Katharine Drexel in Rome in 2000.
IF YOU WERE FORCED TO PICK YOUR FAVOURITE STORY WRITTEN FOR WIDER HORIZONS, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
TINA: I think Journey of the Iinii in the fall 2023 issue, about how the polytechnic’s Winter Count Robe came to be, is the story that I’m most proud of.
LISA: The one I probably loved most was the story of soon-to-be-grads John Manyok and Samuel Mathon, two Lost Boys of the Sudan, in the spring 2016 issue.
LISA: A little bronze statue of a newsboy my mother-in-law gave me, called “Extra! Extra!”
FIRST BOOK YOU REMEMBER READING AND LOVING?
TINA: Anne of Green Gables
LISA: Anne of Green Gables.
SOMETHING YOU’RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING UP/CAN NEVER REMEMBER?
TINA: Proper spellings of enrol, enrolled, enrolment.
LISA: Various Canadian Press style rules.
FAVOURITE WAY TO DE-STRESS AFTER DEADLINES?
TINA: Becoming a puddle on my couch while watching something mindless on TV.
LISA: Going out to a celebratory lunch with the amazing designer of Wider Horizons, Dana Woodward.
WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST IN YOUR NEW ROLE?
TINA: Continuing to share stories about the awesome alumni, students and employees of Lethbridge Polytechnic while learning the ins and outs of magazine publishing.
LISA: Getting to tell the stories of the amazing alumni who learned and grew in the place that shaped me so much, and carrying the lessons learned and connections created here with me.
Have a story idea for a future issue, or a great grad you want to celebrate? Tina would love to hear from you. Email her at WHMagazine@lethpolytech.ca.
TOP TEN
FROM THE DEN
Wider Horizons turned to the people who know the ins and outs of campus best – Lethbridge Polytechnic employees – to get their picks of the top news stories from the past four months. Here’s what they had to say.
RESEARCHER AWARDED NEARLY $500,000 FROM RDAR
5 10 9 8
Dr. Chandra Singh, Lethbridge Polytechnic’s senior research chair in agricultural engineering and technology, has been granted nearly $500,000 over five years by Results Driven Agriculture Research (RDAR) to continue his work in post-harvest crop and quality losses. RDAR made the funding announcement in June. As an RDAR-funded research chair, Singh says he and his team will focus on minimizing post-harvest losses, adding value to local crops and developing products and technological solutions to meet the needs of Alberta’s agri-food ecosystems.
CAMPUS EXPERTS SHARE ADVICE ON MANAGING EXAMS
Jayne Werry, Learning Café academic strategist and Corrine Janzen, intake coordinator for Wellness Services, provided advice to high school students in May about strategies and skills as they studied for final exams. They provided tips in five suggested areas of focus – studying, memorization, timemanagement, exam writing, and health and wellness. Read more on the May 14 story at lethpolytech.ca/news.
INTERNSHIP WINNER PENS ARTICLE ON MENTAL HEALTH IN ARMED FORCES
Justin Sibbet, second-year Digital Communications and Media student, has been awarded the 2024 Troy Reeb Internship. The annual award is sponsored by Reeb, co-chief executive officer of Corus Entertainment and a 1988 graduate of the Broadcast Journalism program. Sibbet’s winning submission details the disproportionately high number of deaths by suicide in Canada’s veteran population, how a soldier’s service can affect the well-being of their family, the mental health supports that are in place for veterans, and what more needs to be done.
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STUDENT-RUN LITERARY MAGAZINE LAUNCHED
Ursa Minor, Lethbridge Polytechnic’s new student-run literary magazine, launched in April. The project was spearheaded by instructor Dr. Amy Hodgson-Bright, who received a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Explore grant in 2020 to help develop the magazine. Second-year General Arts and Science student Theresa Ogaosun had a hand in every aspect of editing, publishing and promotion. “I learned so much about starting a magazine, which is something I have always wanted to do,” she says. “I can say I am now equipped to launch my own magazine thanks to the experiences I got from this class, and from Amy.”
POPULAR INSTRUCTOR RECEIVES
PROVINCIAL TEACHING HONOUR
Jim Pinches, geomatics technologist in the School of Engineering Technologies, received the 2024 Outstanding Educator Award from the Association of Science and Engineering Professionals of Alberta (ASET) in April. This award showcases an educator who demonstrates excellence in teaching, educational innovation and commitment to the advancement of knowledge and technological studies. Pinches was nominated by one of his former students, Wade Weaver (Civil Engineering Technology 2007), who has also served as a past president of ASET.
CPA RECOGNIZES BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION COURSES
Several courses in the Business Administration program have once again been acknowledged by Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) – Canada’s only accounting designation. The annual reporting process and subsequent approval ensures Business Administration students receive relevant and upto-date accounting and business education as well as earn credit toward their CPA accounting designation. “To receive credit with the Canadian accounting body, which is recognized world-wide, is the true measure of any accounting program,” says James Reimer (Business Administration 1990), chair, School of Business.
STUDENTS LEARN VALUABLE SKILLS DURING WIL PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY Students in three programs participated in the City Scholars program last semester, a work-integrated learning initiative of the City of Lethbridge. The projects included: creating a feasibility analysis for the City to assess the potential for installing shipping containers near Casa that could be rented to small businesses in need of space downtown; using architectural animation skills to repurpose the historic Bowman Building for a non-profit organization and using photogrammetry to 3D capture the courthouse in the downtown Civic Commons.
APPRENTICES SHINE AT SKILLS CANADA COMPETITION
A huge and hearty congratulations go out to Kylar Bloomberg (second year –Plumber Apprentice) and Jaylon Koehn (third year – Welder Apprentice) who won silver medals at this year’s Skills Canada competition held May 29 to June 1 in Quebec City. Bloomberg was coached by Plumbing instructor Jeremy Bridge, while Koehn was coached by Welding instructor Dave Heins.
RESEARCH CENTRES AWARDED MORE THAN $200,000 IN FEDERAL GRANTS
The federal College and Community Innovation program awarded Lethbridge Polytechnic more than $200,000 in federal research funding in June. The Centre for Public Safety Applied Research and the Spatial Technologies Applied Research and Training Centre will use the funding to collaborate on the introduction of a new medium for performance and presentation called the Spatially Interactive Panorama, while the institution’s Mueller Irrigation Research Group will receive nearly $29,000 to support the transformation of the Lethbridge Polytechnic Research Farm into a smart irrigation farm.
Lethbridge College BecomeS Alberta’s newest polytechnic
We’re an institution that knows what happens next matters most. And what happens next for us is a new position on the post-secondary landscape as Lethbridge Polytechnic. The advanced education environment in Alberta and elsewhere is shifting, and polytechnics occupy a space between traditional colleges and universities. As a polytechnic, we can create new pathways to other institutions, continue to grow our applied research and be increasingly nimble to ensure we meet social and economic needs in our region, province and beyond. These opportunities are good for students, industry, our communities and the economy. We are Lethbridge Polytechnic. (Read more about this exciting change on p. 12).
You can read all of these stories and more at lethpolytech.ca/news.
Thanks to our polytechnic colleagues who helped shape this list!
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE
BEST OF THE BEST CELEBRATED AT 2024 KODI AWARDS
The Kodiaks brought together teams, employees, campus leaders and supporters in April at the KODI Awards, which celebrate the athletic and academic achievements of Kodiaks student-athletes in their 2023-24 season. The awards capped another strong season for Kodiaks Athletics, with more than 50 Alberta Colleges Ahtletic Conference (ACAC) and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) individual and team recognitions.
The three pillars of Kodiaks Athletics – academic accountability, athletic excellence and the student-athlete experience – steered the voting on all KODI awards. Awards were selected by members of the Kodiaks Athletics administration team and coaches, and factor in the results of a record number of 753 public votes.
The women’s soccer/futsal team was named the Val and Flora Matteotti Kodiaks Team of the Year; Hannah Helton and Owen Stewart were recognized as the Tim Tollestrup Leadership StudentAthletes of the Year; Dr. Simon Schaerz earned the Electrical Solutions Inc.
Kodiaks Coach of the Year award; and student-athletes Rayanne Hoeflicher and Gunnarr Gibb were named winners of the Calgary Flames Foundation Leadership Scholarships, recognizing student-athletes who excel in leadership, community involvement and academics – the “unsung heroes” of Kodiaks Athletics.
CCAA RECOGNIZES KODIAKS’ TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE
As part of its 50th anniversary celebrations, the CCAA organized a series of special events and initiatives – and a Kodiaks team was among those honoured in June. The CCAA awarded “sport supremacy” honours to the top member institutions in each sport, recognizing them for their achievements and dedication to excellence. Kodiaks cross-country was named the No. 1 cross-country team, while women’s basketball finished third. The CCAA also announced the top 50 overall CCAA supremacy schools based on points earned over the past 50 years, and the Kodiaks were ranked 17th.
Throughout their history, Kodiaks cross-country running teams captured three national women’s team titles
(2003, 2004, 2019) and five men’s team titles (2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009). In addition, the teams have had four female and five male individual national champions. Kodiaks women’s basketball teams won national championships in 1989, 1990, 2004 and 2017.
KODIAKS RACK UP CCAA ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC HONOURS
The Kodiaks were thrilled to learn that five student-athletes were recognized as CCAA Academic All-Canadians for the 2023-24 academic year. The awards recognize student-athletes who achieve an honours standing in academics combined with an elite athletic achievement. Those honoured were: Kyra Piekema, Raeleen Vanden Dungen and Nicole Stahl, women’s soccer; Owen Stewart, men’s cross-country running; and Courtney Deemter, women’s basketball. In addition, 52 Kodiaks student-athletes were named CCAA National Scholars, which recognizes student-athletes who achieve honours standing in academics while competing in intercollegiate athletics.
SEE ALL THE AWARDS AT go
Kodiaks inducted into Hall of Fame The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) inducted two Kodiaks representatives, Bertil Johansson and the 1988-90 women’s basketball teams, into the ACAC Hall of Fame on May 10. The induction is considered a testament to the enduring legacy of the organization in promoting sports and academic excellence in Alberta’s post-secondary educational institutions.
Johansson, who served as the Kodiaks cross-country and indoor track head coach from 1987 until 2018, was honoured as a coach inductee. He led the Kodiaks women’s team to its first ACAC championship in the fall of 1988 and
went on to coach student-athletes to 54 gold medals in the ACAC and Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in 32 seasons. In addition, he led his teams to more than 100 conference and national honours. These achievements mark him as the most decorated coach in Kodiaks Athletics and ACAC history. Johansson’s exceptional career extends beyond the ACAC, as he was inducted into the Kodiaks Hall of Fame in February 2024, as well as the Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.
The Kodiaks 1988-89 and 1989-90 women’s basketball teams were honoured as a team inductee for their back-to-back national
championships. The first national championship in basketball came for what was then Lethbridge Community College in the 1988-89 season, thanks to depth and dominance on the court. The team’s success continued the following season with the Kodiaks earning their second CCAA championship in as many years.
student-athlete advances futsal coaching skills in Portugal
In May, Kodiaks women’s soccer and futsal student-athlete Malorie Hanson travelled to Portugal to participate and obtain the Portuguese Federation’s Level 1 Futsal Coaching Licence. This was part of the recent Futsal CanadaCanada Soccer partnership with the Portuguese Football Federation. Hanson was one of just three women who were selected and took part in this program.
“I was really excited about this opportunity because I feel there is a severe lack of futsal programming in Canada and I would like to help promote the sport as much as I can,” says Hanson. “I also want to help female athletes have more opportunity and involvement in futsal, and I recognize that
equipping myself with education and connections is an essential step in this.”
Hanson has always been interested in coaching, as both of her parents were soccer coaches. This past year, Hanson battled an injury that ended her soccer season. She turned that hardship into an opportunity by transitioning to a student-coach for the futsal season, which was her first time coaching adults in a team format. Although the transition from athlete to coach was challenging, she says her teammates made it easier and helped her gain confidence. Hanson helped coach the team to a silver medal at the 2024 ACAC Futsal Championships held in Lac La Biche, Alta.
Photo by Shawn Salberg
The President’s View
by Dr. Brad Donaldson
I have been thinking a lot about change lately. At its core, change refers to the process of becoming different, which can occur in countless ways and contexts.
Change can be immediate, or it can be an accumulation of small, sometimes unnoticeable adjustments along an evolutionary path. Whether we embrace it or resist it, change is an inevitable part of our journey.
Since becoming Lethbridge College nearly 20 years ago, our institution has continued to evolve. And that evolution is now captured in a big change. We are now Lethbridge Polytechnic. Our name has changed, but have we? In being redesignated as a polytechnic institution, we now have a name that reflects who we are, not who we aspire to be. Our name rightly identifies who we have evolved to be – a vibrant
institution that delivers a broad mix of apprenticeships, certificates, diplomas and degrees that prepare students for their careers and fill needs in our region and province; that provides research expertise that is immediately beneficial and relevant to Alberta’s economy; and that offers supports for students to experience success in post-secondary, including introducing them to careerbased experiences throughout their K-12 years. This transformation is not merely cosmetic; it signifies a deeper, more profound shift in our identity and mission.
We are an institution founded on change. The programs and services we offer are different from our past and almost certainly will be different in the future. This adaptability is our strength, enabling us to stay relevant and innovative in a rapidly changing world. We continuously strive to meet the needs of our learners and the sectors we serve, ensuring that our
education and training are aligned with current and future demands.
This is why our learners come to us: to personally evolve through their experience here, both through a formal learning path and the dynamic environment we cultivate. Our campus is a hub of creativity, collaboration and innovation. It is a place where students are encouraged to explore, experiment and push boundaries, gaining not only academic knowledge but also practical skills, critical thinking abilities and a mindset geared towards lifelong learning.
At Lethbridge Polytechnic, we understand that change is the engine of progress. By embracing it, we prepare our students for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow, fostering a culture of resilience, adaptability, and continuous improvement. Our commitment to change is unwavering, and it is this commitment that will propel us and our learners into a successful and promising future.
President Dr. Brad Donaldson speaks to media on June 25 following the Government of Alberta’s announcement that Lethbridge College would transition to Lethbridge Polytechnic.
Wider Horizons, media training course win awards
Lethbridge Polytechnic received two Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Circle of Excellence gold awards in June – one in the category of Communications Initiatives (for teams of 10-25 people), which recognized the Media Training Course developed last year by members of the Communications team, and one in the category of Magazines – Alumni General Interest (two-year institutions), which recognizes two issues of Wider Horizons from the 2023 year. In the last 10 years awards were given, Wider Horizons has received seven gold awards and two silver awards in this category. As well, Wider Horizons for the 2024 Robert Sibley Magazine of the Year, in the company of magazines from Boston, Bryn Mawr and Virginia Commonwealth universities.
Greenhouse donates 4,000 kg of cukes to food banks
In support of local food security and food waste prevention, the Centre for Sustainable Food Production donated 4,046 kilograms of cucumbers to the campus community fridge, the Lethbridge Food Bank and the Southern Community Food Security pantry this spring. These cucumbers were grown during the greenhouse lighting trial.
Congratulations to the following Lethbridge Polytechnic community members for making a difference in their work and communities:
Kerry Edwards, Environmental Sciences instructor, was recognized as the Alberta Volunteer of the Year by Ducks Unlimited Canada in April.
Dale Gerber, business planning analyst in Strategic Planning, Analysis and Reporting, won first place in the co-ed singles division and second place in the 50+ division of the 2024 Alberta Racquetball Provincial Championships held in April in Calgary.
, purchasing assistant in Procurement, earned his first black belt in taekwondo in June. Don started the sport after promising his son he would join him in training nine years ago.
, instructor in the School of Agriculture Sciences and scientific lead in the institution’s Mycology Lab, published an article in the Mushroom World magazine.
Donations surpass million-dollar milestone
Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Development office reached a remarkable milestone: it surpassed the million-dollar mark in donations processed this fiscal year. This number includes both cash donations and gifts in-kind of items and tangible assets used by various programs and centres. Thanks to all who have made a gift. If you are interested in giving to student awards or other initiatives, go to lethpolytech.ca/give.
(Business Administration 1990), chair, School of Business, was presented with a 2023 Chartered Professional Accountants Education Foundation Teaching Award for his contributions to the education of accounting students in May.
, senior research scientist in the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence, presented at the Aquaponics Association’s virtual conference in April.
Karen Smith, English Language Centre (ELC) manager, and Quentin Boehr, ELC academic coordinator, represented Lethbridge Polytechnic and Canada during an Inbound Trade Mission held in Victoria, in April.
Dr. Karla Wolsky (Nursing 1998), an instructor in the Centre for Health and Wellness, was the first student to earn a graduate certificate in the scholarship of teaching and learning at the University of Saskatchewan in June.
CAMPUS KUDOS
CAMPUS NEWS
Hack and Seek MAKES HISTORY
High school students who gathered in Lethbridge, Edmonton and Calgary for a weekend-long virtual reality (VR) development competition in May can’t be blamed for not knowing what they were getting into. After all, there has never been an event quite like Hack and Seek: Alberta XR Career Quest.
“You are part of history,” event organizer Mike McCready, who leads the institution’s Spatial Technologies Applied Research and Training (START) Centre, told the teens. “You can say, ‘I was there at the beginning.’”
Hack and Seek is a hackathon— a gathering of people who work collaboratively to create a computer program — and the first held across Alberta simultaneously at Lethbridge Polytechnic, Bow Valley College and NAIT. About 50 high school students working in teams were challenged to create a VR application to address a health-related issue.
The students were given the task on a Friday afternoon, quickly merged into teams and got to work. The students’ experience with 3D computer modelling, design and coding varied from some to none at all, but with help from experts at all three sites, all the teams brought their visions to life.
“It’s really nice to see that we were able to create a decently polished game in such a short amount of time,” said Jer emy Rondeau, a Grade 10 student from Lethbridge-based francophone school, École La Vérendrye. “I didn’t know any one here. I just went in a random group, and it was really fun, honestly.”
Rondeau and Magrath High School students Hunter Coleman and Patrick Cahoon were singing the event’s praises even before they were announced as the winners of the Lethbridge event, sharing a prize of $3,000. Their project, Immune Systems Management, immersed the user
inside a view of the human body, where the heart was under attack by viruses. The player could preserve their health, using a virtual sword and medical kit.
New paramedic program approved
“I’m really impressed,” said Allyson Cikor, one of the Lethbridge judges. “They all had design and multiple elements for interaction. It’s incredible to actually have made something that worked!”
Many of the students said they hope
Lethbridge Polytechnic received approval to offer a Primary Care Paramedic (PCP) program of its own for the Winter 2025 semester. This means that both the Alberta College of Paramedics and the Government of Alberta have given their approval for the institution to proceed. For well over a decade, the program has been offered on campus in partnership with NAIT, but in an effort to make a seamless student experience, the polytechnic started developing its own program. We are still close partners with NAIT through a curriculum sharing agreement, and we will continue to collaborate with them on curriculum updates as the paramedicine professions evolve.
Students pitch their big ideas
A business pitch can make or break a company, and a successful one takes practice.
For students at Lethbridge Polytechnic, this means putting classroom theory into practice through various pitch competitions that give them a taste of the business world before they start their careers.
The institution’s AgENT Innovation and Entrepreneurship program teamed up with the University of Lethbridge, Red Crow College and Community Futures in March for a pitch competition showcasing student and community entrepreneurs. The Launch Point Pitch Competition is a high-energy competition that elevates early-stage entrepreneurs on their start-up journey and allows students the opportunity to network with industry representatives.
“This is an important opportunity for students and new grads to showcase their innovative ideas and out-of-the-box thinking in their pitches to our community,” says Dr. Andrew Dunlop, associate vice-president –applied research. “Pitch competitions let students bring awareness to the everyday issues they see in their fields of study and showcase how their ideas can help solve real-world issues and contribute to society.”
This year, AgENT was pleased to see students receiving more than $7,000 towards their ideas. “I see this competition as a way to get the ball rolling on my business,” says Kariza Manychief (Business Administration – Management 2024). “It’s not about winning – it’s about taking that exciting and scary first step in letting your business be known.”
In February, the Digital Communications and Media (DCM) and Multimedia Production (MMP) students came together for the ninth year of the Tecconnect Challenge. This competition requires teams of students to develop a pitch over a five-hour period for a local client, working quickly to deliver a creative pitch and marketing solutions under a tight deadline. “To be successful in the Tecconnect Challenge, students need to be adaptable and collaborative,” says Martina Emard, DCM and MMP instructor. “The process is intense but replicates deadline-driven projects they may face in the workplace.”
For Ayrton Tabuno (Business Administration – Accounting 2024), the inspiration to participate in a pitch competition started before the first day of classes. Tabuno joined three classmates at the Western Canada Accounting Case Competition for an intense eight-hour challenge in Calgary. The case involved technical accounting and a presentation to Chartered Professional Accountant judges
based on their results and issues they identified in the case. “The very first time I went to campus for New Student Orientation, the cheques from previous case competitions displayed on campus caught my attention, and I thought what a great honour it would be to represent the institution and bring home an award,” says Tabuno. “I never thought that a couple years later I would be part of a great team representing my institution.”
James Reimer, School of Business chair, put the Business Administration students through an intense bootcamp to prepare for the case competition where the Lethbridge Polytechnic team ultimately took home second place. “A case competition allows our students one more opportunity outside of their classes to truly put theory into practice – which is what industry demands,” Reimer says. “These competitions give students a glimpse at future careers and are often based on real-life scenarios or actual situations, and let students interact with judges working in the industry.”
Students at Lethbridge Polytechnic put classroom theory into practice through a variety of pitch competitions that give them hands-on experience working with clients and solving real-world problems.
Story by Melanie Fast
Photo by Tanner Fletcher
WE ARE LETHBRIDGE POLYTECHNIC
OFFICIAL DESIGNATION RENAMES INSTITUTION AND REPOSITIONS IT ON POST-SECONDARY LANDSCAPE
The next step in this institution’s storied 67-year history has seen it transition to Lethbridge Polytechnic, a change that was given approval by a Government of Alberta order-in-council on June 20 and announced by Minister of Advanced Education Rajan Sawhney on June 25.
As a polytechnic, the institution will play a crucial role in bridging the gap between education and industry, fostering economic development and enhancing the social and cultural fabric of our communities.
“AS A POLYTECHNIC, WE CAN CREATE NEW PATHWAYS TO OTHER INSTITUTIONS, CONTINUE TO GROW OUR APPLIED RESEARCH AND BE INCREASINGLY NIMBLE TO ENSURE WE MEET SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC NEEDS IN OUR REGION, PROVINCE AND BEYOND,”
said Michael Marcotte, chair of Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Board of Governors. “These opportunities are good for our students, our industry partners, our communities and the economy.”
Even before the announcement was made, Lethbridge College already met the definition of a polytechnic, and it had essentially been operating as one by offering hands-on programming, apprenticeships and being industry-responsive. Programs have long encouraged learning by doing, developing the practical skills and competencies required in today’s workplaces and giving graduates an advantage in the labour market.
“We became Canada’s first publicly funded community college in 1957 because southern Alberta needed one,” said Dr. Brad Donaldson, president and CEO of Lethbridge Polytechnic. “Being forward-thinking is baked into our DNA. And while our official designation has changed from a college to a polytechnic, our role in the community remains the same – to provide programming that meets the needs of industry, and to engage in research that supports economic development.”
Polytechnics also focus on innovation through applied research and collaboration, an area of the institution that has seen significant growth in recent years through the Centre for Applied Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
More opportunities to engage in research is one of the benefits the change will bring to students. In addition, it will fill a gap in southern Alberta’s post-secondary landscape as the
only polytechnic south of Calgary; provide more pathways for learners at Lethbridge Polytechnic and to other post-secondary institutions; and offer a range of diverse program options designed in collaboration with industry partners to ensure that the curriculum meets current and future job market needs, all while ensuring continued personalized instruction, small class sizes and hands-on, practical skills.
Lethbridge Polytechnic Students’ Association president Nagaraj (Raj) Rotti said: “I’m excited to see how this redesignation will bring more opportunities to students and how it will help students be better prepared for the challenges that come when they leave campus and go into the real world. It will help us prepare better for the coming opportunities.”
Above: Chair of Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Board of Governors, Michael Marcotte, speaks with media shortly after the Government of Alberta’s announcement June 25.
Below : Lethbridge Polytechnic Students’ Association President, Nagaraj Rotti, speaks with media about how the redesignation will benefit students.
LEARN MORE
WHAT IS A POLYTECHNIC?
In Alberta, polytechnics occupy a space between traditional colleges and universities. The term “polytechnic” means different things from country to country, with some countries not having polytechnics, others using the term interchangeably with “universities,” and others aligning them more closely with colleges that focus on applied learning. In Alberta, the term “polytechnic” has been used interchangeably with technical institutes for decades, but that definition does not reflect the reality that polytechnics, like Lethbridge Polytechnic, deliver a broad range of academic programs that are not technical in nature.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COLLEGE AND A POLYTECHNIC?
The differences are small, especially for a campus like ours. Both types of institutions focus on applied learning and combine study with practical skills training and experience. Lethbridge College was one of nine Comprehensive Community Colleges in Alberta, but as Lethbridge Polytechnic, we’ll be one of five polytechnics, joining NAIT, SAIT, Northwestern and Red Deer. One key difference is a polytechnic in Alberta must provide approved apprenticeship training. That’s optional for a college, but it is something we have done since 1957 and will always continue to do.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ALUMNI?
Regardless of the name, you are still an alumni of our institution. We look forward to continuing what we have always done, sharing the stories and accomplishments of our alumni community. Whether you knew the institution as Lethbridge Junior College, Lethbridge Community College or Lethbridge College you are still a member of the alumni and institutional community. This change reflects work we’ve been doing for many years, work that our alumni have played a huge role in – growing our research portfolio, connecting with industry partners and emphasizing work-integrated, experiential learning. It is an accomplishment we can all be proud of. You may notice we’ve made some updates to reflect our new name. Our social media accounts have been
updated and we hope you keep following along. The LC Alumni Perks app still works and still offers great deals and discounts. Eventually, the LC name will change on the app, but we anticipate that will just require an app update. Stay tuned! You experienced the transition from post-secondary to the work world, and your experiences help shape our programs and steer our students to success! Alumni involvement and connection remains vital to Lethbridge Polytechnic.
IF I NEED A REPLACEMENT CREDENTIAL, WHAT WILL IT SAY?
Your credential remains the same and still holds value. If you need a replacement, it will bear the name Lethbridge Polytechnic. Any credential issued by a post-secondary institution in Alberta must bear the graduate’s legal name and the institution’s legal name on the parchment. There will be a notation of the original date of production and the date of reproduction.
WHY DON’T YOU HAVE A NEW LOGO FOR THE NEW NAME?
Over the summer we began consulting with current and prospective students, employees and other key groups about a new design. That work continues into the fall, but we will be ready to launch that important visual before the end of the year.
HISTORY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
To see the deep connection between Lethbridge Polytechnic’s vision and the original concept for Lethbridge Junior College, see our interactive history at:
leth polytech .ca/our-history
HORSES
GRAD LEAVES CITY ROOTS FOR RURAL LIVING AND A CAREER IN AGRICULTURE
Story by Tina Karst
Photos by Sam McPhedran, Emberbees Photography
WHEN IT COMES TO BIG DECISIONS, LIKE CHOOSING A CAREER PATH, SAM MCPHEDRAN (AGRICULTURE SCIENCES – ANIMAL SCIENCE 2017)
SPEAKS FROM EXPERIENCE WHEN SHE SAYS, “FOLLOW YOUR GUT AND DON’T BE AFRAID TO JUST JUMP IN.”
That’s what she did in 2015 when, having grown up in Calgary with no agricultural background, she decided to pursue an education and subsequent career in the cattle industry.
“I was in Grade 12 [in Central Memorial High School] and my parents said I should go to college or university,” McPhedran recalls. “I wasn’t interested in anything besides animals, so I chose the Agriculture Sciences program at [thenLethbridge College].”
Since then, McPhedran has transitioned from city girl to cattle administrator at Kolk Farms Ltd., with stints along the way working on a feedlot barn crew, as a brand inspector and as a pen checker. She even launched her own photography business, Emberbees Photography, where she captures
stunning shots of the animals, landscapes and people of southern Alberta.
“Sam is a great example of someone who followed what they like to do, and applied it to a career in agriculture,” says Byrne Cook, chair of Lethbridge Polytechnic’s School of Agriculture. “She wasn’t willing to be pigeonholed just because she didn’t have a farm. She’s a natural, and she’s done really, really well.”
While the journey hasn’t been without challenges, McPhedran says it’s thanks to a supportive family, inclusive classmates and encouraging instructors like Cook that she’s living her rural dream.
“People are always confused about how I can live ‘in the middle of nowhere’ after growing up in the heart of Calgary,” she laughs. “I love it.”
While McPhedran’s aspiration to move from the city to the country might seem surprising to some, her younger sister says it wasn’t a shock to anyone who knows her well.
“Growing up, we had a nanny from New Zealand, and she was really into English riding,” says Sarah McPhedran. “She introduced us to horses at a very young age and by elementary school we were both taking riding lessons. Sam always had a natural talent for riding and was really good with horses.”
As the siblings got older, Sarah took up skiing as her preferred recreational activity, but Sam stuck with horses and got involved in show jumping.
“In high school, Sam spent so much time at the barn,” Sarah says. “Her summer jobs were at the barn, and she really liked the people out there, so when she decided she wanted to go into agriculture and move down to Lethbridge, I was not surprised at all.”
Despite being raised in a city of more than 1.6 million people, Sam McPhedran says she had no trouble fitting in with her classmates – most of whom came from farming families. She even jokes that many of them thought she, too, was a farm kid at first.
“I did notice that I needed to study and work harder than my peers because [some of the course content] wasn’t second nature for me,” she says. “I was like, ‘how do you guys just understand?’ But … they grew up with it and I didn’t.”
Still, she says the classes were “totally doable,” adding she really found her groove in the second year when she majored in Animal Science. McPhedran gives credit to the program’s plethora of hands-on experiences and the one-on-one support she received from Cook.
“One thing about Sam, is she’d always have questions,” says Cook. “Oftentimes people will come in and they don’t know something, and they’re scared or shy or embarrassed to ask, but you’d be surprised at the number of people who grew up on farms who also don’t know the answer. Students without a farming background, most of the time, aren’t that far behind the others.”
McPhedran also became a member of the student-run Aggies Club, and says she learned a lot from her classmates by listening to their stories, helping them brand cattle and touring their family farms.
“They helped me understand the basics, which they might have known [firsthand], but at that point I didn’t,” she says. “Being from a big city, I didn’t have that small-town-class feel so it was great for me, and I’ve made amazing friends.”
After graduating in 2017, McPhedran began working at VRP (Van Raay Paskal) Farms near Iron Springs, Alta. where she spent about three years processing cattle as part of the feedlot’s barn crew. Following that, she worked as a brand inspector for the Lethbridge County division of Livestock Identification Services. She inspected all cattle bought or sold at area feedlots, auctions and ranches.
McPhedran started at Kolk Farms Ltd., which is also near Iron Springs, in 2021. In her role as a pen checker (cattle herdsperson), she rode or walked the pens every day to check that the animals were healthy and provided necessary treatment for cattle that needed it. She also inducted new arrivals into the feedlot and shipped outgoing cattle. It’s a job McPhedran willingly jumps back into, should her co-workers need extra help outside of the office.
“THEY
HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THE BASICS, WHICH THEY MIGHT HAVE KNOWN [FIRSTHAND], BUT AT THAT POINT I DIDN’T. BEING FROM A BIG CITY, I DIDN’T HAVE THAT SMALL-TOWN-CLASS FEEL SO IT WAS GREAT FOR ME, AND I’VE MADE AMAZING FRIENDS.”
SAM MCPHEDRAN
Raised in Calgary, Sam McPhedran followed her love of animals to Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Agriculture Sciences – Animal Science program and now enjoys a successful career and homelife in rural southern Alberta.
“My current position as cattle administrator, where I deal with inventory and dispatch of incoming and outgoing cattle, is probably my favourite,” she says, “but I really liked being a pen checker. It’s hard on the body, especially in winter, but I would do it again for sure.”
While Sarah McPhedran, who is working on her PhD in biochemistry and studying cancer immunology at the University of Victoria, doesn’t share her sister’s love of rural life, she says Sam is right where she’s supposed to be.
“She’ll tell me about how she was up at 5 a.m. in minus 40 degrees, and I think, ‘that sounds awful, I would never want to do that,’ but she’s never complained about it, she’s always really liked that stuff,” says Sarah McPhedran. “She thrives in that environment.”
And her co-workers agree.
“Sam brings an element of enthusiasm and creativity to everything she does,” says Megan (Kolk) Van Schothorst, Human Resources and Animal Welfare, Kolk Farms Ltd. “She has a skill for co-ordinating – events, schedules, communications – and for pointing out things in agriculture that I see as normal and day-to-day, but that she sees as an opportunity to photograph and share with others.”
McPhedran says her interest in photography began in 2019.
“A feedlot co-worker was looking for someone to take maternity photos,” McPhedran says. “I borrowed – and never returned – my mom’s Nikon and from there I was hooked!”
McPhedran’s passion behind the camera quickly grew into a business – Emberbees Photography. Ember is for the first dog she and her partner, Garrett Ross, owned together and Bees is for Abby Van Es, a close friend and Agriculture Sciences classmate who passed away suddenly, just two weeks after graduation.
“She was a really awesome friend,” says McPhedran. “She was one of a kind.”
Emberbees Photography specializes in lifestyle and agriculture photography, and McPhedran says she also shoots a handful of summer weddings each year.
“Kolk Farms is very accommodating when it comes to my side hustle, and that’s how I make it work,” she says. “I do get asked quite a bit if I would rather be a full-time photographer … but I’m very invested and happy at my job in the cattle industry. I don’t wish for anything to change.”
That sense of contentment shines through in McPhedran’s personal life as well. She spends her downtime with Ross on their “funny farm” full of horses, cows, dogs, cats and chickens. The quarter section of land just east of Carmangay, Alta., is where Ross grew up. Now, the couple rents the property from his mom.
“When she was able to put her horse on her property, that was her dream – literally her dream come true,” says Sarah McPhedran. “Looking out her window and seeing her horse, that was everything.”
Sam McPhedran says one day, she and Ross would like to turn the quarter section into a working farm, but for now it’s mostly just a “happy place” as they both work full time.
A career, a passion project and a country home with room for horses – it’s the culmination, McPhedran says, of following her love of animals to a formal education in agriculture at Lethbridge Polytechnic.
“You learn a lot just from working, but the program gives you a leg up,” she says. “It’s 100 per cent worth it because it’s not just the education, which is great, but it’s the whole experience and the people you meet. I wouldn’t take it back for a second.”
Campus Recreation manager, JP Gentile (centre) walks through Centre Core with students Sharon Boit (left) and Noel Cole.
IT COSTS NOTHING TO BE KIND
GRAD AND LONG-TIME EMPLOYEE BUILDS
COMMUNITY ON- AND OFF-CAMPUS
It’s not even 9 a.m. and JP Gentile (Recreation Management 1996) has already been part of several enthusiastic conversations as he makes his way from the parking lot to the Lethbridge Polytechnic Students’ Association (LPSA) office. As he weaves through Centre Core, he’s asking students about their weekend, suggesting a table tennis rematch later in The Cave, inviting them to dodgeball or cricket in the gym, and offering smiles and a lot of “hey, how’s it going?”
“A little ‘hello’ can go a long way,” he says. “That’s what I love about my job – student interaction and making those connections.”
Story by Tina Karst | Photos by Rob Olson
As the LPSA’s Campus Recreation manager, Gentile is responsible for organizing sports leagues, tournaments, drop-in activities and outings like skydiving and ski trips. But for many students (and colleagues) over the past 27 years, he has also been a moving company, a carpenter, a taxi driver, a delivery service and a midwinter car battery booster – not to mention a support system and a confidant.
“I’m also the guy with the suits,” he laughs, “I’m always wearing something quirky.” And even that, he admits, is by design to lighten the mood and break the ice so students can have an enjoyable and well-rounded post-secondary experience.
But it’s so much more than that. Gentile’s thoughtfulness goes beyond brightly coloured suits, onesies and tie-dyed referee shirts at dodgeball games. He cares. A lot. And his gestures over the years – both big and small – have made immeasurable differences in the lives of so many people.
“JP is a blessing,” says Mary Isijola, a second-year Business Administration student who moved to Lethbridge from Lagos, Nigeria, one year ago. “Young, old, black, white – he doesn’t differentiate. He gives to everybody, he helps everybody … and he makes Canada a place I will never forget.”
In the LPSA boardroom across the hall from Gentile’s office sits a collection of plastic bags full of clothes, boxes of housewares and a variety of other donated items all destined for the next campus clothing drive. The latest event, and the second of the academic year, is only a few weeks past, but the floodgates are still wide open – thanks largely to Gentile’s community connections.
“I sent out a message to a couple of people from [a local church group] and it just blew up,” he says. “My phone is going nonstop, and I’m picking up truckloads.”
Gentile says he started accepting donations of housewares on a whim, and quickly found out how much students, especially international students, need them.
“We put out silverware and kitchenware, plates, bowls, pots and pans, stuff like that, and the shelves were cleaned out within the first hour,” he says. “We [people who have lived in Canada for many years] take it for granted, that we have junk drawers full of these things. [International students] can bring clothes over. They can’t bring dishes.”
Gentile says sometimes, students in need of household items will approach him, either because they’ve gotten to know him
or because other students have mentioned his name.
“One student asked me, ‘sir, do you have a bed?’ for, like, six months,” Gentile recalls. “Finally, my daughter says she wants a new bed, so I tell him I’ve got a nice queen-size for him, with a headboard and everything. I bring it over, he opens up his bedroom and he’s been sleeping on a thin mat on the floor.”
Gentile smiles and says, “he tells me he’s getting the best sleep now.”
This kind of grand gesture is not at all surprising – or even out of the ordinary – for those who know Gentile.
Take Isijola and her 11-year-old son, Jeremiah, for instance. The pair moved to Lethbridge from Nigeria in the summer of 2023. While they were initially excited to have found a fully furnished room to rent, Isijola says living with their landlord quickly became uncomfortable.
“It was difficult,” she says. “I don’t want issues [with her], I only want peace for my son, and I remember being on my bed crying and thinking, ‘I never planned for this. This is not a phase I want to go through anymore.’”
Isijola says she decided to look for an apartment. It was early in the fall semester, so she stopped by the LPSA office to ask Gentile if he could keep an eye out for rentals, though she says she found one online within a week.
“I think it was two weeks later – we had moved, and I was wondering where to start [trying to furnish the apartment on a limited budget] when I saw JP,” she says. “He asked me, ‘what’s wrong with you?’ and I said, ‘I got an apartment.’ He went, ‘woo-ha!’ but I said, ‘don’t celebrate yet, the apartment is pretty much empty.’”
Isijola says Gentile’s response was an automatic, “I got you.”
“I thought, what do you mean, ‘I got you?’” Isijola recalls, though she says Gentile’s intentions became very clear a few days later when he pulled up to her apartment building with treasures from storage locker purchases (one of Gentile’s many hobbies) in tow.
“I had tears running down my face when I saw JP,” Isijola says. “He brought his truck with a bed, bed stand, couch – he brought everything for my apartment. I was shocked. It was like a dream come true, like a miracle, and it was a blessing to me and my son.”
In the months that followed, Isijola says Gentile checked in with her regularly and gave her extra blankets in preparation for her first Canadian winter. She says she even got a Christmas gift from him.
“That was a second shock,” she laughs. “I don’t receive gifts during Christmas, I give people gifts. So, JP was the first person to ever give me something. He is a true friend, and he became family along the line. Sometimes, when I’m coming to school and having difficulty at work or thinking ‘how do I get through this subject,’ I’ll see JP and his smiling face gives me so much peace, joy and happiness.”
“A LITTLE ‘HELLO’ CAN GO A LONG WAY. THAT’S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT MY JOB – STUDENT INTERACTION AND MAKING THOSE CONNECTIONS. ...I’M ALSO THE GUY WITH THE SUITS.” JP GENTILE
Isijola, a second-year Business Administration student, moved to
from
one year ago. She says Gentile “is a blessing.”
Mary
Lethbridge
Lagos, Nigeria,
Gentile is always ready for a game of table tennis in The Cave. Opposite , Isijola and Gentile sort donations for the next campus clothing drive.
In The Cave, the undisputed home turf of the LPSA, table tennis is calling, and Gentile can’t help but pop in for a quick game. He plays – a lot – and for several years running, he’s been the one on campus to beat.
“I’ve always heard [students say], ‘you gotta go beat the old guy’ and for years I didn’t lose,” he says. “But lately, I’ve been playing some students from Nigeria and they’re good, like next level. There was an audience of 50 people the other day. It was awesome.”
In addition to his long-standing reputation as a worthy ping pong opponent, Gentile has also become known as the Cricket League Commissioner. He established a league during the 2022-23 academic year in response to the growing number of students from India who were interested in playing a popular sport from home. The initiative was so successful that upwards of 70 students started showing up for tournaments.
“They made me an honorary Singh,” he grins proudly, referring to the surname common among Sikh men. “They call me JP Singh.”
There’s no doubt Gentile has a special connection with the polytechnic’s international students. He says as a second generation Canadian, it just comes naturally.
Gentile’s parents were born in Italy and immigrated to Canada with their families at a young age – settling first in Montreal and later in Fernie, B.C.
He mentions his father and his father’s younger brother initially stayed behind in an Italian orphanage before they were reunited with their mother and two older siblings a few years later. Unfortunately, by that time, their father (Gentile’s grandfather) had passed away.
“They came to the land of opportunity to try to better their lives, and there were tough times,” Gentile says. “My grandma was living on welfare and helping with the church in Fernie just to try to put food on the table. So, I have a soft spot for immigrants and refugees – I may not understand their struggles where they come from, but I can empathize and I can help, because people helped my family.”
It’s also one of the reasons why Gentile is so passionate about helping students who are struggling with food security. In his early days as an employee, Gentile helped transition the campus food bank over to the LPSA and then he ran it for several years. He’s also heavily involved in the annual CANstruction anti-hunger event at Centre Village Mall. Teams of architects, engineers and designers – including a group of Lethbridge Polytechnic engineering students – build life-size structures out of cans. At the end of the event, Gentile helps distribute thousands of dollars in canned goods to local food banks, including the one on campus.
Gentile was also a driving force behind the LPSA’s community garden project that ran for several years, which generated hundreds of pounds of produce for student and community food banks. With fond memories of his “small house, big garden” childhood home, Gentile connected with
Lethbridge Family Services to organize volunteers from the Lethbridge Bhutanese Seniors group who planted, tended and harvested the crop of potatoes, peppers, tomatoes and more. Many of the volunteers had been farmers in Bhutan.
“They donated their time and wanted no produce in the end, aside from a couple of tomatoes in their hats,” Gentile says. “I’d check in on them and bring them water, or I’d sit and have lunch and watch them garden and think, ‘I remember those days.’ Even my grandma was there gardening with them.”
More recently, the LPSA in partnership with Wellness Services created food pantries for students in need –a years-in-the-making bucket list item for Gentile. Discretely located in four locations around campus, the pantries’ shelves are stocked each weekday during the academic year.
“It’s a big cost, and the institution came through with support for us,” Gentile says, referring to a $5,000 donation announced by the polytechnic’s Executive Leadership Team in August 2023. “This [leadership] group has made such an impact. They see our students are struggling – rent has gone up, gas has gone up, groceries have gone up – and they have been very receptive [of our initiatives].”
TO SUPPORT SOME THE WORK JP GENTILE AND THE
LPSA ARE DOING YOU CAN:
• Donate non-perishable food items to the campus food bank
• Offer a monetary donation to help stock the food pantries
• Supply gently used clothing and household items for students in need
• Email lpsa@lethpolytech.ca or call 403-320-3373 for more information
When he’s not raising money for the LPSA Food Bank, helping furnish students’ apartments, co-ordinating clothing donations, or performing countless other good deeds throughout the day, Gentile is focused on organizing recreation activities on campus and brainstorming new ideas.
As a former member of the Kodiaks men’s soccer team – two years as a student-athlete and nine years as an assistant coach – overseeing student sports leagues is a natural fit for Gentile, though he says the LPSA team is always adjusting to accommodate changing interests.
“Every year is a new child,” he laughs. “We used to have 24 floor hockey teams and now I can’t get one. But disc golf is huge – they’ll play in three feet of snow and tape ribbons to their discs so they don’t lose them. Cricket has really taken off, and we ran a poker tournament the other day and 50 people showed up, so you never know. We just try things.”
Gentile says bingo is a prime example of something that would never fly nowadays, and yet Sexy Bingo attracts 300 people to The Cave twice a semester. The LPSA’s events website claims, “it’s not your grandma’s bingo,” – an amusing catchphrase, but even more so if you know where the cards came from.
“They use my grandmas’ bingo cards from the 1970s,” says Gentile, grinning. “The ones with the windows and they have their names on the back – Theresa and Rosalia. Every bingo, someone says, ‘who’s this Rosalia lady?’ Those cards have seen miles and miles.”
Gentile is also quick to credit his Italian heritage for his sociability and fondness for events, saying he grew up hosting countless gatherings at his home – from soccer spaghetti dinners and fundraisers to holiday parties.
“My dad was a New Year’s baby so every New Year’s Eve we would have 70 or 80 people over,” Gentile recalls fondly. “He was a teacher, so during the holidays we’d go to his elementary school, grab 20 tables and those old-fashioned chairs that
“YES, THEY’RE HERE FOR ACADEMICS BUT THOSE LITTLE THINGS CREATE LASTING IMPRESSIONS, AND WHEN THEY LEAVE THIS INSTITUTION, THEY’VE MADE SOME KIND OF HOME AWAY FROM HOME.”
GENTILE
wouldn’t stack properly and bring them to our basement. People knew the Gentiles always had the big parties.”
Whether it’s a slow-pitch tournament, goat yoga, pictures with a pot belly pig, or betting on what spray-painted square on the soccer field a cow might do its business, for Gentile, nothing is more important than creating a positive student experience.
“Students come back five years later, and they don’t necessarily remember what they did in CJ101, but they remember a good ball tournament or hoisting a hockey trophy,” he says. “Yes, they’re here for academics but those little things create lasting impressions, and when they leave this institution, they’ve made some kind of home away from home.”
It’s an approach that, even after 27 years in the Campus Recreation office, Gentile still takes to heart.
“He’s in his element,” says Aaron Chubb, Gentile’s long-time friend and former LPSA colleague. “I think some people might get stale in a role like that, but he’s so good at listening to what students want to do and being flexible. People bring him ideas and he’s not closed minded. He listens, and he goes, ‘OK, how can we make this work?’”
And, Chubb says, he always goes the extra mile.
“I have a lot of good memories of some bigger events that we did, like Band Wars at The Barn, but it was often the little things – a one-off event in Centre Core or a free swag giveaway – that I realized made a huge difference with students,” he says. “Those things didn’t take a lot of planning or a lot of work, but they had a big impact. JP taught me that sometimes it’s those smaller things that people really remember.”
Off-campus, and still very much focused on relationships and community building, Gentile is on call as a handyman for seniors who need repairs done on their property, their lawns mowed, or their homes cleared of furniture when they downsize.
“My name’s out there,” he laughs. “Me and my dad built several houses in Fernie. I bet you could drive out there and somewhere on every block is a house we did a renovation on; we did a ton. I couldn’t build someone a house now, but I could build them a shed or a deck or a fence.”
He’s also got one of the biggest Christmas displays in west Lethbridge that he purposely leaves up for months before and after the holiday season.
“I open up my blinds and kids are just walking through the Paw Patrol [cutouts],” he says. “Parents are dropping them off just to have 10 minutes of destressing.”
Add to the mix, family time with his partner of several years and his two kids, who he says, “truly keep me on my toes,” and it’s no surprise that Gentile is always on the move.
Gentile’s collection of brightly coloured suits hangs in his office. He says he’s always wearing something quirky to lighten the mood and break the ice.
He jokes that on rare occasions, the words, ‘JP said no today,’ will appear on an LPSA office whiteboard and his colleagues will snap a picture to commemorate the event.
“I just can’t,” Gentile laughs, “I can’t say ‘no.’ I like helping people.”
Last spring, Gentile received a Lethbridge Polytechnic Honouring Excellence Award for Community Leadership – a recognition that encapsulates his efforts on- and off-campus to do good and bring smiles to those around him.
What he may not realize is that by doing what comes naturally to him – being kind and helping people – he’s also inspiring others to do the same.
“I’ve had a number of people who I would consider mentors in my life, and JP is definitely one of them,” says Chubb. “He’s really good at catching those moments to take a little extra step and really make someone’s day. He taught me it’s the conversations, it’s how you make people feel –those are the things that really stick.”
Isijola says she, too, considers Gentile to be a mentor and a role model she would like to emulate, in addition to being first a friend and now an honorary family member.
“I would love to walk through his path to understand how he does it,” she muses. “When you render help to people, you can find some peace. So, I can imagine the kind of peace he finds.”
It’s high praise, but Gentile is humble. He gives credit to his “wonderful LPSA colleagues” and the many student executives, student representatives and polytechnic employees who, over the past 27 years, have made lasting impressions on him as well.
“Just try to help one another,” he says. “It costs nothing to be kind.”
“JUST TRY TO HELP ONE ANOTHER. IT COSTS NOTHING TO BE KIND.”
JP GENTILE
VIEW JP GENTILE’S PHOTO COLLECTION
JP Gentile has posed for hundreds of photographs over his three decades on campus, both as a student-athlete and as an employee. To view some of his hand-picked favourites, visit lethpolytech.ca/wider-horizons.
Gentile was recognized for his thoughtfulness on- and off-campus last spring, when he received a Lethbridge Polytechnic Honouring Excellence Award for Community Leadership.
DID YOU KNOW?
Gentile has been backstage with music industry royalty!
Shortly after graduating from then-Lethbridge College, Gentile opened his own security business called Jepeto Securities. For 15 years, he and his team provided security for every event and concert held at the ENMAX Centre. A few notable names include Mötley Crüe, Reba McEntire, Selena Gomez, Elton John, KISS and Taylor Swift.
“My claim to fame is that I did a VIP meet and greet for everyone’s favourite country star, Taylor Swift, in 2007,” says Gentile. “I bumped shoulders with her well before all the Swifties showed up!”
Noting that it would be “unprofessional” to ask for an autograph, Gentile says the experience was still pretty cool.
And, he says he always had plenty of volunteers from the Criminal Justice programs who were interested in helping him keep the peace – and seeing popular artists up close for free. Gentile says some of those volunteers are local police officers now, and he is still in touch with them.
“KISS is my favourite band, and they were here in 2013,” Gentile says. “That was my last concert. The fireworks and streamers went off at the end. It was amazing.”
INGREDIENTS
One of the first recipes Chef Megan Laqua (Baking Apprentice 2023) tried when she bought the textbook used in her program was for cheesecake – and it was an instant favourite. “It was simple, surprisingly forgiving and an absolute blank slate of a recipe,” she recalls. “It tastes delicious on its own, but with an idea and a little bravery, you can turn it into something great.”
Laqua modified that recipe for Thanksgiving by adding pumpkin puree and spices, and it turned out so well she tired it again at Christmas. She chose this recipe for readers of Wider Horizons hoping they will take her adaptation and “go on to find a way to make it their own as well.”
Having people ask for a recipe is one of the most satisfying parts of baking for Laqua. “I believe that food is made to be shared, and so are the recipes,” says Laqua, who has been manager of Safeway West Lethbridge bakery since April. “I find joy in the creating of the item, not just in its consumption.”
Story by Lisa Kozleski | Photos by Rob Olson
FOR THE BASE
2 cup ............................................... graham cracker crumbs
1. Remove ingredients from refrigerator an hour before starting.
2. If using an 8-inch springform pan, line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper. Alternatively, use parchment paper to line the bottom of a cake pan with a circle and the sides with a strip.
To enjoy the creations of Lethbridge Polytechnic chefs, make a reservation at the Garden Court Restaurant by calling 403-320-3230. Bon appétit!
3. Preheat oven to 400°F. Melt butter in the microwave 30 seconds at a time. Mix with graham cracker crumbs. Press mixture into pan using the bottom of a glass or fingers. Bake 7 to 10 minutes. Let cool.
FOR THE FILLING
4. Use paddle attachment of mixer to blend cream cheese at low speed until smooth. Add sugar, corn starch, lemon zest, vanilla and salt. Blend until smooth. Do not whip.
5. Add eggs and egg yolks one at a time. Scrape down sides of bowl between each addition.
6. Add cream, milk and lemon juice. Scrape down the paddle and sides of bowl to ensure there are no lumps.
7. Add pumpkin puree. Stir in spices by hand with a spatula. Pour filling mixture over cooled crust.
TO BAKE
8. Without water bath: Bake at 400°F for 10 minutes; then lower heat to 225°F and bake for 60 to 90 minutes until mixture is set.
9. With a water bath: Place the filled pan inside a larger pan and fill outer pan with water. Bake at 350°F until set, about 60 to 90 minutes.
10. Cake is done when a knife inserted at a shallow angle near the centre comes out clean.
11. Cool to room temperature before refrigerating to set completely. Chill cake well before removing from pan. For a springform pan, run a knife around the edge before popping the spring. For a cake pan, flip the whole pan over onto your hand or a plate, and lift the pan away.
12. Enjoy!
{ Chef Megan Laqua }
PUMPKIN PIE CHEESECAKE
Where are they now?
Makers, Doers and Thinkers
Celebrating the Lethbridge Polytechnic alumni who are building community and making their mark in memorable ways.
FEATURING:
Brad Kronlund Business Administration 2020
Story by Melanie Fast
Photos by Rob Olson
SHARING THE SUCCESSES OF OUR ALUMNI
IN THEIR CAREERS AND THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES.
Brad Kronlund makes the kind of trees you’d want your cat to climb. What started as a simple cardboard tunnel system held together with duct tape has grown into Custom Cat Cribs, a booming business that now creates two-metre-tall castles, garden homes, haunted graveyards and jungle paradises for cats.
Kronlund has always loved cats, and after his dad saw the homemade cat tunnel he made when he was just 15, he suggested Kronlund start making cat trees. The idea immediately clicked for him, and he purchased a few two-byfours and built his first tree.
“It was not a great looking cat tree,” he says, “but I was very proud of it.”
He made a few more trees and advertised them on Kijiji and Facebook and, to his surprise, there was a huge demand for them. Although he received help from his dad initially, Kronlund’s construction skills are all self-taught and it didn’t take long before he began to add intricate details and make improvements to his initial designs.
“I was 15 and had nothing but time,” he explains, “so I was able to get really creative with them, and it was just fun for me.”
And, while many students might go to college to learn how to run their business, Kronlund had been running Custom Cat Cribs for four years before he entered the Business Administration program at then-Lethbridge College. He credits his time at the institution with helping him learn how to network and make connections in the local business community.
“Because of networking I have a really good bookkeeper now,” says Kronlund. “My former instructors provided good business advice and the marketing classes helped as I grew my business and began launching advertising campaigns.”
with fabric tiki torches, or a castle fit for feline royalty.
“I consider each one a piece of art,” says Kronlund. And, with nearly 200,000 followers on TikTok, cat lovers around the world can now see his work.
His success has allowed him to hire two human employees, but no product can go out the door without being approved by his feline product testers, Leroy (or Roy) and Zipporah (or Zippy), who can attest to the comfort, durability and nap-ability of each tree.
Kronlund has produced more than 2,000 pieces of cat furniture in the 10 years he’s been in business and says “a busy day is a successful day.” He is now selling Custom Cat Boxes, a bi-monthly subscription box filled with cat toys, treats and even a few items for humans.
As for what keeps him motivated every day, he credits his customers and his own pride in his work. “When I drop off a cat tree, you can tell it just made the customer’s whole day,” he says. “Those are the moments that make it all worth it.”
See more of Kronlund’s work at www.customcatcribs.com
Although he’s based in Lethbridge, most of the business for Custom Cat Cribs comes from outside the city. Kronlund began shipping his cat trees across Canada in 2020; a year later he was shipping them to the United States. The models range in height and price, although the sky is the limit for the custom elite models, which allow Kronlund to let his creativity flow as he brings his customers’ ideas to life – be it a jungle scene complete
ALUMNI UPDATES
We love hearing from Lethbridge Polytechnic alumni! You can find additional updates online at widerhorizons.ca.
To submit your news to share with your classmates and the campus community, drop us a note at WHMagazine@lethpolytech.ca.
2024
Nicholas Carbol
Bachelor of Ecosystem Management
– Fish and Wildlife; Renewable Resource Management 2022
Nicolas started as a wildlife sweep biologist with Acden Aves, an environmental services company providing bird deterrent services, wildlife sweeps and technology solutions for radar and bird tracking.
Oluwatosin (Tosin) Liadi
Digital Communications and Media Tosin worked as a practicum student in Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Marketing, Communications, Alumni and Engagement office this spring. Before she left, the team asked her to share a bit of her story, reflect on her time as a student and let us know her plans for what happens next. Here’s what she had to say:
“I am Oluwatosin Liadi. I migrated to Canada in 2022 as an international student to pursue Digital Communications and Media. With over a decade of experience in media sales, I sought further education to diversify my skills and explore broader aspects of the field. Balancing studies as a full-time student with being a mother of three and a wife has been challenging yet rewarding. Upon starting [at the polytechnic],
I prioritized both academics and building meaningful connections. Despite familiarity with the course, I encountered new challenges that demanded adaptation and dedication. My initial separation from my family compounded by my father’s illness added emotional struggles when I landed in Canada. Though daunting, I resolved to excel. Reuniting with my family last year significantly eased my educational journey and was reflected in improved academic performance. My experience at Lethbridge [Polytechnic] has been truly transformative. While I’ve always been a cautious risk taker, my time here has reinforced the belief that determination can overcome any obstacle. It’s shown me that with unwavering resolve, the adage ‘where there is a will, there is a way’ holds true.” Oluwatosin recently started working at the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce as a marketing and communications coordinator.
Klarizze Martinez
Early Childhood Education
Klarizze is working as a Level 2 early childhood educator.
Ynshera Jandette Mae Nigol
Business Administration
– Accounting
Ynshera is continuing her education at SAIT.
Bradley Pike
Computer Information Technology
Bradley competed on the Kodiaks’ Valorant esports team and became the youngest team captain in the history of Lethbridge Polytechnic. Bradley has been a champion and advocate for esports since his high school days at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute. When the pandemic shut down most extracurricular activities, esports was a way for people to stay connected. Bradley worked hard to secure funds and build a community, which led to him captaining his team to victory, and securing a national title during his senior year at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute. He brought his passion to campus, and helped the Kodiaks earn the title of “Best Team in Canada” during both the Eastern College Athletic Conference playoffs and for the regular Division 1 season. Bradley graduated this spring and is now pursuing his bachelor of computer science at the University of Lethbridge. He also recently started working with Economic Development Lethbridge to help build, connect and support our community.
Angela Pyrch
General Arts and Science
– Psychology and Sociology
Angela is pursuing a bachelor of social work degree from the University of Calgary.
Titus Zere
Renewable Resource Management
Titus is working at Cows and Fish, the Riparian Management Society, a nonprofit society striving to foster a better understanding of how improvements in grazing and other management of riparian areas can enhance landscape health and productivity, for the benefit of landowners, agricultural producers, communities and others who use and value riparian areas. He says he is planning to return to Lethbridge Polytechnic to complete an Ecosystem Management degree after working for a couple of years.
2023
David Igbodudu
Business Administration
– Accounting
David told the Alumni office he has become an official public accountant and is also pursuing photography on the side.
Emma Ramm
Child and Youth Care
Emma told the Alumni office: “I am enjoying life after college and am deciding what I want to do in my future endeavours! I’m very glad to have learned from the utmost best instructors that Lethbridge [Polytechnic] has to offer, and graduate alongside fellow students who share similar beliefs and values!”
2022
Krystal Winter
Business Administration
– Management
Krystal is currently working as the operations coordinator for Residence Life at Lethbridge Polytechnic.
HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU!
Do you have a Lethbridge College, a Lethbridge Community College or even a Lethbridge Junior College student ID still kicking around?
We’d love to see it for a story we are working on for our winter issue of Wider Horizons.
Just snap a photo of your old student ID (please block out any important information!) and email it to WHMagazine@lethpolytech.ca.
Please include your name, program and grad year, and a few sentences reflecting on what happens when you look at that old ID.
Feel free to share:
• The memories that come to mind from your first day on campus – the people you met, places you visited or events you attended.
• Who made a lasting impression on you – instructors, classmates, roommates, coaches, teammates, coworkers…and why?
• How you’d describe the person in the photo, and how you’ve changed since then.
• What you know now that you wish you’d known then.
Alumni who contribute will be entered into a draw to win some great alumni swag and could see their photo and memories in our winter issue.
NEED TO UPDATE YOUR WIDER HORIZONS ADDRESS?
If you’d like to change your mailing address, receive an e-version of the magazine, comment on a story, or remove your name from our mailing list, please email the editor at WHMagazine@lethpolytech.ca.
Email is the best way to reach our team; however, if a phone call is best for you, please call 403-320-3202 ext. 5778.
ALUMNI AT WORK – MNP Lethbridge
M
NP Lethbridge has provided accounting, business consulting and tax services in southern Alberta for more than 20 years, offering a local focus and small firm culture, backed by the resources of a national firm with more than 120 offices from coast to coast. And of the scores of partners and professionals on their team, 32 are grads of Lethbridge Polytechnic. They say they are proud to live and work in the community and contribute to its continued growth and prosperity.
“We are thrilled to celebrate our connections with Lethbridge Polytechnic,” says Janene Moch, a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) who is a principal partner at MNP and was appointed to the Lethbridge Polytechnic Board of Governors in 2021. “The institution’s exceptional curriculum and dedicated faculty consistently produce high-quality graduates who bring fresh perspectives and valuable skills to our firm. Together we share a commitment to excellence in nurturing talent and fostering professional growth, contributing to our community’s growth and prosperity. We are proud of our Lethbridge Polytechnic alumni, and we look forward to continued collaboration opportunities in the years to come.”
Some of the alumni now working at MNP Lethbridge are (left to right): Nick Vandenberg, Jonathan Klok, Mandy Toth, Jeff Van Deurzen, Whitney Procee, Kyle Secretan, Bethany Van Braak, Taylor Vanee, Sreenash Santhosh, Matt Suriano, Heather Krooshoop, Kiana Lawson, Anna Olan, Lauren Vanee, Cheryl George, Moncy Chacko, Jordan Oliver, Tara Greenwood, Kristyn Juergenson, Michael Leusink, David Muryn, Rhonda Waldorf, Daniel Kozak, Jordan Elder, Sarah Phillips, Tony Albizzati, Stephanie Hogan and Janene Moch.
Mason Edwards Business Administration – Marketing, General Arts and Science 2020
When Mason first arrived at Lethbridge Polytechnic, he wasn’t quite sure which path to take. Balancing his academic journey with his volleyball career, he explored different options until he took an introduction to business class and his mentors, instructors John Russell and David English, inspired him to pursue marketing. Before he knew it, four years had passed, and Mason’s college volleyball career was coming to a close. Luckily, he was able to end it on a high note, as the Kodiaks got the chance to host a provincial tournament and earned a trip to nationals. Mason also earned many program records to be proud of during his time as a Kodiak. Following graduation, Mason secured a position as a new account manager for GFL, an environmental services company in Lethbridge and the surrounding area.
In his position, he oversees solid waste and recycling services for various clients, from commercial businesses to residential and construction services.
“The GFL southern Alberta team provides the fast-paced energy I was so used to with the Kodiaks,” says Mason. “It feels incredible to be able to use the many skills I obtained from Lethbridge [Polytechnic] and everyone who was a part of my journey there.”
Linsey Mabie
Business Administration 2021; Administrative Assistant 1996
Linsey is working as a Human Services program assistant in the Centre for Justice and Human Services at Lethbridge Polytechnic.
2020
Jermaine Forbes
Police Cadet Training
Jermaine is the newest officer with the Taber Police Service, joining in May. He is on the patrol team, and had previously served with the Blood Tribe Police Service.
2018
Darci Durvec
Health Care Aide
Darci is currently working towards starting her own business. She told the Alumni office: “With recently being diagnosed with ADHD and looking at a possible autistic diagnosis, I am focusing on my family and my mental health nowadays.”
Joshua Mackenzie
Digital Communications and Media
Josh sent the Alumni office this update: “After working for five years with Artrageous Advertising in Lethbridge as the social media department manager, I started a new position in April 2023 at
Glacier Media Digital in Vancouver as a social media specialist. The latter two years of my time at Artrageous were remote from Vancouver, so I am glad to be back in an office in-person again!”
Tiffany Trinh
Bachelor of Nursing
Tiffany told the Alumni team: “I am so happy to join the Lethbridge Polytechnic family as a clinic instructor for the NESA program. This has always been a goal of mine to help guide and support students on their journey to becoming a nurse. I am also still working as a pediatric nurse at the hospital. It’s such an exciting opportunity, and I am so grateful for the people in my life who helped me get to where I am today. I want to make my parents proud as they have helped support me throughout my nursing education and career goals!”
2016
Tieggan Rouleau
Business Administration – Marketing Tieggan joined Hubbard Feeds, an Alltech company, in October 2022 as a lifestyle sales representative based in Wyoming, and in April, she was named marketing lead for Lifestyle Feeds, another Alltech company. She has owned horses her entire life and continues to compete at the professional level in team roping and breakaway roping, and now calls Buffalo, Wyo., home.
2015
Rachel CrowSpreadingWings Communication Arts – Broadcast Journalism
In May, Rachel started working as a multi-skilled journalist with CTV National News, based in Edmonton. Rachel has worked as an on-air talent in the media since 2016. Her past roles include anchoring, in-studio/live reporting and producing. She joined the CTV Winnipeg team in 2020. Before joining CTV Winnipeg, she worked for CityNews Winnipeg and an ABC/FOX affiliate in Great Falls, Mont. For the last two years Rachel has also produced the Indigenous Screen Summit (ISS), a half-day event at the Banff World Media Festival. The ISS creates space for 15 Indigenous filmmakers to pitch their stories and vision to a global audience. Join in the fun at Lethbridge Polytechnic’s free family festival.
Family activities SATURDAY SEPT. 14 NOON TO 5 P.M.
Live music, food trucks and a vendor market
Communication Arts
– Print Journalism
2012
Alexandra Kulas Business Administration (Rising Star 2012)
In May, Stacey joined Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Communications team. Stacey says she always enjoyed writing and being creative, whether through words or visuals. When choosing a post-secondary pathway, she knew she wanted something that aligned with her interests. Hearing about the Print Journalism program at what was then Lethbridge College seemed like a perfect fit. “My time in the Print Journalism program was the start of a pathway I never would have imaged,” she says. “It has led me to unbelievable experiences and opportunities.” After the program, Stacey went on to pursue a diploma in digital photography, worked in various marketing roles and spent three years abroad as a cruise ship photographer. Once returning to southern Alberta, she chose to pursue her professional communications degree with Royal Roads University, a continuation in education that was possible because of a transfer agreement with Lethbridge [Polytechnic]. As she continues her education, she is excited to return and contribute as a communications specialist. “Returning to where it all started gives me an immense sense of pride,” she says. “I’m eager to be back and contribute to a place that has given me so much already.”
Alexandra made a mark during her time on campus as president of the students’ association, but she didn’t stop there. Her leadership skills have continued to serve her well in her entrepreneurial career. Alexandra has founded two businesses, starting with Simplified Social, a digital communications agency. In 2021 she led the acquisition of the firm to a larger agency, Bluetrain, where her entire team joined forces to offer a fullservice digital marketing experience. Also in 2021, Alexandra created a new childcare and co-working centre called ProducKIDvity, with a mission to better the life of working parents. She is now working towards opening a third location in downtown Kelowna. Alexandra was also recently approached to audition for Dragon’s Den and plans on attending the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance Summit in Brazil this year as part of the Canadian delegation.
Zeenat Merchant Early Childhood Education
Zeenat has worked in childcare for 12 years, and currently works at a Montessori school.
2011
Jessica Szasz
Practical Nurse;
Criminal Justice - Policing 2006
Jessica told the Alumni office that after graduation, she went on to earn her bachelor of nursing degree, completing it while working casually as a licensed practical nurse.
2009
Rachel Tail Feathers Business Administration
– Management
Rachel was named the new senior operations officer for social and community services with the Blood Tribe Administration (BTA) in December. According to a release from Blood Tribe Communications, Rachel had previously worked as the director for Blood Tribe Housing and has an extensive work history with various Blood Tribe departments as well as other organizations. Her role is a new position within the BTA’s organizational structure and is designed to enhance the service delivery for the five department directors she works with: Family and Community Support Services, Social Development, Recreation and Parks, Housing and Public Works. After earning her diploma, she went on to earn a bachelor of management degree from Athabasca University, a degree in Native American studies in politics at the University of New Mexico, and her master’s degree in legal studies in Indigenous Peoples law from the University of Oklahoma.
2005
Marie Laenen
Bachelor of Nursing
Marie told the Alumni office:
“I am teaching at Lethbridge Polytechnic and loving it!”
2002
Irene Young Pine
Child and Youth Care
Irene wrote the Alumni office to say:
“After graduation I worked in Lethbridge at various schools, early intervention services and group homes. I worked as an educational assistant, [Indigenous] family liaison, youth worker and as a family preservation worker. I returned to the University of Lethbridge and went into teaching and taught for 12 years, and I just recently completed my master’s degree in educational leadership. I advanced my career and now I work at a middle school as associate principal.”
Kenneth Christopher James Andrew
Engineering Design and Drafting Technology
Kenneth currently works in drafting as well as project management for Purcell Timber Frame Homes, which is based in Nelson, B.C.
In April, Annette was appointed principal of Lethbridge Collegiate Institute for the 2024-25 school year. Over the years, Annette has been a high school teacher, an administrator, a division principal and a central office administrator. In each position, she says she gained strong communication skills and learned the importance of collaboration and understanding. Annette’s belief that educators have the privilege and responsibility to create pathways for students to achieve their dreams, along with her 15 years of experience, led to her new
Rob Watts (General Studies 1999)
R
ob was inducted into the Prairie Baseball Academy Hall of Fame earlier this year. His journey from little league standout to college athlete and beyond is a true testament to his unwavering passion for the game of baseball and dedication to excellence. His early accomplishments in the sport set the stage for him to join the Prairie Baseball Academy in 1996, where he successfully balanced his time between cleats and class schedules while pursuing his diploma on campus. After graduation, Rob continued his academic and athletic pursuits at Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb. In his senior year, he served as team captain, and led the team to an impressive 35-10 record and a second-place finish in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Regional. Not only did Rob shine on the field, but he also completed his undergraduate degree and later earned a master’s degree in exercise science.
In 2004, Rob made the transition from player to coach, and was named assistant coach for the University of Mount Olive Trojans in North Carolina. In 2018, he was promoted to head coach, where he continues to have significant impact both on and off the field. Throughout his coaching career, Rob has seen remarkable success, including clinching 10 conference championships, 14 NCAA tournament appearances, and an NCAA national championship. His coaching has also contributed to the development of four Major League Baseball (MLB) players and 32 players drafted or signed to MLB organizations. He has mentored 38 All-Americans and numerous Player-of-the-Year recipients and has won multiple conference and regional awards. Rob’s dedication to academic and athletic excellence is further exemplified by the five Academic All-Americans he has coached. Rob has played a pivotal role in shaping the career and lives of countless student-athletes.
appointment. “Creating a collaborative workplace and that of student excellence in all things is what brought me to accept this role,” she says.
Annette has been recognized by the Blackfoot Confederacy for her work and commitment to the Blackfoot language. She also has taken extensive leadership training, including a weeklong seminar at Harvard Graduate School of Education, which put a focus on understanding, developing and implanting a strong vision in schools.
Rolanda sent the Alumni office this update: “Since graduating on April 28, 1995, I have been employed with McMan Youth, Family and Community Services. I was able to work in several programs, including being a youth worker in secure treatment; receiving and assessment in group homes; a crisis worker; support for therapeutic parents; and a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder life coach for adults. I was with McMan for 28 years until my retirement on April 28, 2023. Throughout the years, I raised my two wonderful daughters and was honoured to have been blessed with three talented granddaughters. I have been with my supportive partner for over 20 years. I also have enjoyed planning or [helping plan] different events (birthdays, retirements, etc.)”
1994
Dr. Sandra Davidson
Nursing (Career Virtuoso 2019)
In April, Sandra was named provost and vice-president academic at the University of Calgary. In her 30-year career, she has served in a wide range of academic and health-care environments and she says she’s eager to bring her community-engaged leadership style and passion for creative innovation and entrepreneurial spirit to the greater campus community. From her time at the University of Alberta, Carrington College, Arizona State University, and now
entrepreneurship isn’t always about starting a business or an enterprise, or a new widget or technology that you put forward to make money,” she says. “There’s also great value in the idea of social innovation and entrepreneurship. That could mean designing different systems that are more efficient, that make our organizations places where people can thrive and achieve their goals. It can be about putting processes and services in place that are innovative, that support students and researchers in new and different ways.”
1988
Troy Reeb
Communication Arts – Broadcast Journalism; Distinguished Alumnus 2003; Honorary Degree 2019
Troy was named co-chief executive officer of Corus Entertainment in June, leading all broadcast, streaming, studio and revenue operations. He had previously worked as executive vice-president, Network and Content
and was formerly president of Global News. Prior to his executive roles, Troy spent 18 years as a working journalist, including as a parliamentary reporter and Washington bureau chief for Global News. Troy serves on several boards of directors, including Stand Up 2 Cancer Canada, Cupboards Express and Aircraft Pictures.
1987
Marion Yun
Recreation Management –Administration
Marion told the Alumni office that she worked in the recreation field for many years, primarily in a mental health setting. She then went back to school in 2001 and graduated from Douglas College in New Westminster, B.C., where she took the sign language interpretation program, and she has worked as an interpreter for 20 years. She moved back to Alberta in 2022 and works as a sign language interpreter in Calgary.
1981
Cinda Chavich
Communication Arts
Cinda won first place for best food/drink story in the Travel Media Association of Canada’s annual awards in June. Titled “Indigenous roots: Discovering the rare Ozette/Haida potato,” the story was originally published in Edible Vancouver magazine, and it can be read on Cinda’s website, TasteReport.com. She says it’s a deep dive into the history of the west coast Ozette (or Haida) potato, which arrived along the B.C. coast with 16th-century Spanish conquistadors and was nurtured by Indigenous people for more than 100 years, before being “rediscovered” by gardeners, seed savers and Slow Food chefs. With gene sequencing, scientists have confirmed that it’s unique in North America, arriving here directly from Mexico, Peru and points south, unlike most potatoes, which were introduced to Europe before colonists brought them to North America decades later.
FAMILIES IN FOCUS
The Ervin Family
The Ervin family says the lessons learned studying at Lethbridge Polytechnic laid the foundation for their success, but a touch of serendipity has kept them connected both professionally and personally.
Kathie Ervin graduated from the Therapeutic Recreation program in 1990. She notes things were different on campus back then, but says the quality of education her two sons, Ashton and Tyler, received when they later attended the institution remained the same. Ashton took the Electrician Apprentice program and earned his journeyperson certificate in 2014 and later completed the Master Electrician program in 2017. Tyler graduated from Engineering Design Technology in 2015 before returning to take the Electrician Apprenticeship program, completing it in 2021.
“I was really proud that they went to [then-Lethbridge College],” says Kathie who, after working for 16 years in the recreation therapy job she landed immediately after graduation, has now taught Therapeutic Recreation –Gerontology (TRG) at her alma mater for the past 20 years. “I felt good about them attending here because I knew the program was really strong, and I knew they were getting a very solid education.”
Both sons now work together at Southland Trailer Corp. –Tyler as a maintenance electrician and Ashton as the head of maintenance and reliability solutions.
“Even though I didn’t pursue a career with my original diploma, there’s a lot of skills I learned through that program that I still use in my job today,” says Tyler.
Ashton echoes those sentiments, saying the apprenticeship program set him on track for where he is today. Attending Lethbridge Polytechnic, he says, “was the backbone for my career.”
The fourth Ervin, Amanda, came onto the scene as a TRG student in one of Kathie’s classes at the same time Ashton was on campus. Ashton would often visit his mother between classes and, as a result, caught the eye of Amanda. The two
started dating and have been married since 2011. And, while the brothers work together, Amanda and Kathie have also become colleagues as they both now teach TRG at Lethbridge Polytechnic. Kathie received her degree from Athabasca University and was the first therapeutic recreation instructor in Alberta to receive a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) designation. Amanda, who is also the executive director for the Alberta Therapeutic Recreation Association, went on to earn her CTRS along with a bachelor’s in therapeutic recreation and master’s degree in science from the University of Lethbridge, but she acknowledges that everything began across town.
“Whenever I speak at a conference or provide a bio, it’s always really important I mention that I started here,” says Amanda.
It’s that solid foundation that is consistent with all members of the family, with Kathie saying everything has now come full circle as she strives to provide a strong foundation for the next generation of students. “Lethbridge [Polytechnic] gave me my education, got me my first job and led me to where I am today,” Kathie says. “And it all started from that original diploma.”
Story
Are you a multi-generational Lethbridge Polytechnic family? If at least three members across one or more generations attended Lethbridge Polytechnic , let us know by emailing WHMagazine@lethpolytech.ca . We’d love to profile you.
Lethbridge Polytechnic’s Wind Turbine Technician program will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2025. From the start, this nationally recognized program has given students the skills and experience needed to succeed in one of the fastest growing technologies in the world. Students earn an internationally recognized certification from the Global Wind Organization and often have job offers before graduation. Wider Horizons asked some instructors and recent grads to share their favourite parts of the program and the space where they teach and learn. Here’s what they had to say.
I really liked the rescue training and all of the practical, hands-on experience. I found that I really liked working with my hands and felt I learned faster by actually doing something rather than just reading about it in a book. I remember my first climb. It was nerve-wracking getting to the top. And I remember the instructors made us lean over the edge to make sure we could trust our equipment. I carried that lesson with me, and now when I teach new technicians at work, I make them lean into their equipment to make sure they feel confident.
Roger Murray Manager of the Stirling Wind Farm, Siemen’s Energy (Wind Turbine Technician 2013)
The design and layout of the Trades, Technologies and Innovation Facility is amazing, especially the beautiful woodwork in the hallway. And the equipment we used for our training was state-of-the-art, from the massive nacelle in the shop, to the small cubicles we could use to sit and study in private before a test. I appreciated it all.
Casper Beukes
Wind Turbine Service Technician – Site Lead, Stirling Wind Farm, Siemen’s Energy (Wind Turbine Technician 2022)
The best aspect of the program is the students. I love their energy and commitment. Other aspects are the materials covered and the physical teaching. Having full-sized wind turbine components to instruct with is phenomenal and of great benefit to the students. Grads working in the field say they feel well prepared by the training they have received and safety certifications.
For earlier generations of grads, The Barn was the best place to find your friends and hang out after classes. More recent grads have The Cave to call their social home-away-from-home. Email your stories (200 words max) about hanging out and having fun in The Cave to WHMagazine@lethpolytech.ca, and we’ll share them in our next issue.
We can’t wait to read your submissions!
THIS IS KODIAKS COUNTRY
2024-25 KODIAKS HOME GAME SCHEDULE
SOCCER
Sept. 8 SAIT noon 2 p.m.
Sept. 14 OC 2 p.m. 4 p.m.
Sept. 15 RDP noon 2 p.m.
Sept. 29 MHC noon 2 p.m.
Oct. 6 AMB noon 2 p.m.
Oct. 19 UAA 1 p.m. N/A
Oct. 25-27 ACAC Championships
Nov. 6-9 CCAA Nationals
SAVE $5!
Show this ad at the Bookstore between Sept. 1 and 30, 2024, and receive $5 off one clothing item tagged at $30 or more! *This schedule is subject to change.
CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING
Sept. 7 @ Concordia
Sept. 14 @ NWP
Sept. 21 @ Lethbridge Polytechnic
Sept. 28 @ St. Mary’s
Oct. 12 @ Augustana
Oct. 26 ACAC Championships
Nov. 8-9 CCAA Nationals
BASKETBALL
w m
Oct. 25 MHC 6 p.m.
Nov. 1 NWP
Nov. 2 TKU
Nov. 29 CUE
Jan. 10 RDP
Jan. 11 RDP
Jan. 18 SAIT
Jan. 24 OC
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Jan. 31 STMU 6 p.m. 8 p.m.
Feb. 8 AMB 6 p.m. 8 p.m.
Feb. 27-March 1 ACAC Championships March 12-15 CCAA Nationals
For up-to-date game times and to see futsal, indoor track and e-sports schedules, visit:
RETURN UNDELIVERABLES TO:
Lethbridge Polytechnic Communications Office
3000 College Drive S.
Lethbridge, AB T1K 1L6
VOLLEYBALL
Feb. 20-22 ACAC Championships
March 5-8 CCAA Nationals
KODIAKS SPECIAL EVENTS
Sept. 21 Pumpkin run Nov. 15 Jr./Sr. High Night (Volleyball) Jan. 31 Jr./Sr. High Night (Basketball)
